Pierre-Paul Montagnac sanguine (#1575)

French Art Deco sanguine ("Sanguine" is a French term for red chalk containing red iron oxide. It is a very popular medium for the softness and warmth it gives to a drawing. The support for the drawing is a canvas on stretchers primed with a light brown oil paint) titled “La Comedie”, by Pierre-Paul Montagnac in original sycamore wood frame. Signed and dated 1937.

36" wide x 46" high framed.

Image dimensions: 24" wide x 33" high.

Minor moisture damage to the mat, but it does not affect the artwork.

Signed and dated 1934 in the bottom left.

It is signed, dated and titled "La Comedie" on the back of the frame.

In 1937, Montagnac organized the Pavillon de la Salon des Artistes Decorateurs at the Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (International Exposition of Art and Technology in Modern Life. As a participant at the Exposition he did very large panels for Le Theatre and La Danse which clearly took inspiration from the same source. See documentation photos.

Pierre-Paul Montagnac

(1883-1961)

Born in Saint-Denis, France on 9 May 1883, Pierre-Paul Montagnac was equally talented as a fine artist and a decorative artist. He was educated in both disciplines, studying with Eugene Carriére as well as at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére, both in Paris.

His inaugural exhibition was at the 1912 Salons – and at the 1920 Salon d’Automne he received a traveling scholarship. In 1918 he began working in the firm of André Mare and from 1922 collaborated with Maurice Dufrene at La Maîtrise, the famous design studio of Galeries Lafayette. From 1921 he exhibited at the Salons of la Société des Artistes Décorateurs, Salon des Architectes Modernes, 
and internationally, in Barcelona and Leipzig. He designed suites on the grand French oceanliners, l’Atlantique, Normandie and Pasteur.

At the 1925 Paris International Exposition his work was in a standout class. At the 1937 Exhibition he organized the pavillion of the Artistes Decorateurs and personally won a Grand Prix. For the New York Exhibition in 1938, he was a member of the international jury, organized the group of Decorators, and, as architect, organized the exhibitions of jewelry and perfumes.

He became a member of the Society of Modern Architects and executed important and numerous architecture and decorating projects including the luxury apartments on the great French oceanliners l’Atlantique,  Pasteur,  and Normandie.

Vice President and then President of the Societe des Artistes Decorateurs from 1930 to 1938, he was also President of the Salon d’Automne and Vice President of the Committee of the Exhibition of Arts and Embellishments of Life; member of the steering committee of C.T.I. and Artistic Property, member of the Board of Directors of the Central Union of Decorative Arts. He was also an Officer of the Legion of Honor and received the Cross of War.

            MONTAGNAC was the son of an engineer and he had a taste for geometry

            and science that predisposed him to the rigors of architectural laws.

            Multi-talented, he worked independently as a painter – who had

            paintings acquired by the French government – while also working in

            the related fields of architecture and decoration. His work included

            homes, apartments, galleries, luxury shops, banks and the aforesaid

            oceanliners.

            As a designer/decorater, Montagnac had the taste for quality, luxurious

            furniture, using precious woods, bronze extensions, ivory inlays, mother-of-pearl,

            metal and coral. He advocated for a resolutely modern style and, free of all

            pastiches, focused on beautiful cabinetry, the challenges of furniture design,

            particularly from 1940 to 1945, captured all his attention.

            The tireless activity of Montagnac, whose varied works are represented in

            official museums and residences, was also recognized from a professional

            and social point of view. He was a remarkable organizer, devoted to the

            cause of art, to the defense of the trade and his colleagues. It was Montagnac

            who, in 1939, with Anatole de Monzie, took the initiative to found the

            ENTRAIDE to Artists (which provides support to talented young French artists).

MOBILIER ET DECORATION, September/October 1953